Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1543356
6 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 20 FEBRUARY 2026 NEWS Man jailed after threatening partner while skipping bail for Gozo Carnival A man who claimed he was too "unwell" to fulfill his court-im- posed bail obligations but was instead arrested while attending the Gozo Carnival after making off with his partner's BMW to Gozo has been handed a two- year suspended prison sentence for bail breaches and violent threats. On the night of 18 February 2023, Malcolm Schembri filed a report at the Hamrun Police Station that his BMW X5 had been stolen from outside the Al- exandra Hotel in St. Julian's. Although registered in Schem- bri's name, the vehicle was used mainly by his friend, Naomi Pace, who was the accused Ra- chid's partner at the time. The court heard earlier that day, at around 1pm, an argu- ment broke out between Pace and Rachid. Pace testified that when she approached the vehi- cle, she found Rachid sitting in the back seat. When she requested the keys, he refused and became increas- ingly aggressive. According to Pace, the defendant "started banging on the car and causing a scene in the middle of the road". After half an hour, Rachid in- structed Pace to go to their ho- tel room to retrieve his clothes, stating he intended to leave. As she went upstairs, Rachid "start- ed [the car] and left with the mo- bile and keys and everything". Escalating threats The situation worsened throughout the evening as the two exchanged messages. When Pace informed Rachid that she was at the police depot to report the matter, Rachid's responses turned violent. The court noted several "vulgar and offensive" messages with a dis- tinct "threatening tone". Rachid sent a flurry of messag- es, telling her that "If you make me lose my bail [pledges] I will kill you", "Bring the police, I will [expletive] your face" and "I am at Havana [Paceville]... go for the van and that's it, but don't do me harm". Despite claiming to be in Paceville, CCTV evidence lat- er revealed that a dark vehicle matching the BMW arrived in Xewkija Square, Gozo, in the early hours of the next day. Two individuals were seen exiting the car and entering a nearby building. Arrest and the 'carnival' excuse On the morning of 19 Febru- ary, Gozo police were clearing Xewkija Square for Carnival ac- tivities when they identified the BMW as a stolen vehicle. Officers observed Rachid ap- proaching the car and arrested him on the spot. Upon arrest, Rachid handed over the car keys and Pace's iPhone. In his statement to the police, he claimed he had only left for Gozo at 8am that morning and had been home previously, a claim the court later dismissed as false based on the CCTV footage. When asked why he was in Gozo, he stated: "We went up to carnival for a bit". The court's deliberation The court acquitted Rachid of stealing the car and the iPhone. Magistrate Donatella Fren- do Dimech ruled although his actions were "irresponsible," the prosecution failed to prove fraudulent intent. Rachid had prior consent to use the vehicle and he had taken it on this occa- sion "to spite her [Pace]" follow- ing their argument. The court found Rachid guilty of threatening Pace and misus- ing electronic communication. The magistrate noted that the word as he typed it "noqtlok" (I will kill you) was a clear and direct threat that "disturbed the peace" of the victim. Rachid was also found guilty of violating bail conditions from two 2021 court decrees. The xourt noted he had stopped signing his bail book at the Hamrun station on 14 Feb- ruary 2023, claiming he was sick. The magistrate remarked on his "attitude of bravado and lack of respect for the authori- ty of the court," noting he was healthy enough to go to a night- club in Paceville and the Carni- val in Gozo while allegedly being too ill to sign a register. The court sentenced Rachid to two years' imprisonment, suspended for three years, im- posed a fine of €1,500, ordered the confiscation of €1,900 in bail deposits and guarantees from his 2021 cases. The court also mandated his immediate re-arrest in con- nection with pending criminal cases, and issued a three-year Restraining Order in favour of Naomi Pace. ĦALEY XUEREB hxuereb@mediatoday.com.mt Rabat carnival draws large crowds Photo: Ministry of Gozo Malta court